Weekly Devotion: How To Trust God When You're Unsure If Your Circumstances Are a Punishment

By: Nicole Miners

How do we trust God when we're unsure if our circumstances are a punishment from Him?

As we approach Isaiah 9-13 this week, we find the southern kingdom of Israel, called Judah, in a critical moment. Though King Ahaz is a descendant of King David’s, he has not handled the throne in the same manner by any means. Known for being ungodly and idolatrous, King Ahaz considers an alliance with the pagan nation Assyria.

The northern kingdom of Israel- which had also fallen away from God- had just become an ally of Syria. The two scheming nations wanted to strengthen their coalition before ultimately attacking Assyria. They tried to recruit King Ahaz of Judah but, when he refused to join their efforts, ended up attacking Judah instead. Though King Ahaz’s heart was far from God, God sent His prophet Isaiah to assure Ahaz that He would protect Judah against invasion. 

Moving into Isaiah 9 and 10, the prophet then speaks to the judgment God plans to bring against the instigators Israel and Assyria, respectively. Each time that you begin to think it could not get worse for these people, a refrain reminds them, “For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still…” Isaiah then continues to detail the judgment, describing such horrific events as people being used as fuel for the fire (Isaiah 9:19) and eating the flesh of their own arms (Isaiah 9:20). 

When you read Old Testament prophecies of impending judgment, it’s common to feel a little uneasy. If you shifted in your seat and stuttered things like, “What exactly am I reading here, God?” or “Do You still judge the earth like this today?” you definitely wouldn’t be the first. 

Sitting with these verses and questions in a season you’re already navigating with infertility, miscarriage, childhood illnesses and hospitalizations, or child loss can be overwhelming. You can find yourself fearful of both your child’s future and your own salvation all at once.

Before you know it, you might be spinning with the question “How can I trust God when I’m not sure if my circumstances are a punishment from Him?”

Thankfully the Lord did not leave Israel with this prophecy of judgment without moving into one of renewed hope. In chapter 11, Isaiah prophesies the kingdom of the coming Messiah and the peace His rule will usher in. In Chapter 12, Isaiah gives the people a hymn of praise they will sing when that day comes:

“I will praise you, O Lord! You were angry with me, but not any more. Now you comfort me. See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.” (Isaiah 12:1-2).

Even in His anger, God did not leave His children in Israel without hope. This is encouraging but, there’s still better news. The very days that the children of God began to anticipate through this hymn are now the days you and I are living in. We live within the context of a different covenant than existed at this time- a new covenant outlined in the new testament of the Bible but fulfilled only through the groundwork laid in the old covenant. (Did you know that’s why we have the Old Testament versus New Testament?)

Here’s what it means for us…

If you’ve been suffering debilitating fear or doubts because you’re confused whether your circumstances are a punishment from God, you need to know…

You are not punishable in Christ. Period. 

This is a lie of the enemy meant to oppress you and keep you from pressing into the very One who loves and pursues you. The One who longs to set you free of all your fear and to heal your family.

The prophecy Isaiah shares in Chapter 11 speaks hope to the remnant of faithful children of God in Israel. Though they are under idolatrous leadership and living in a sin-ravaged land, Isaiah makes it clear that God is coming to rescue them. He points to a day when God will put that anger aside and instead pull His kids in close.  A day when He will replace the Covenant of Law given to Moses with the Covenant of Grace given through Jesus. It is an exchange of holy and righteous anger for the gift of grace.

When we read Isaiah  in the Old Testament, he speaks of that day as one in the distant future. However, in Galatians 3:13 (contained in the New Testament), Paul writes about this same day once it’s already passed: “But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

The covenant that God’s people were living under during the days of Isaiah was never meant to save them. God knew that there was no one who could perfectly uphold those commandments given to Moses. Since sin had entered the world at the fall, it was now a part of human nature. The law was only intended to highlight the people’s need for a Savior so they would be sure to accept Him when He came.

Taking this context into consideration, the verse from Galatians means that, when Jesus put Himself on the cross, He had no sin of His own to hold Him there. It was our sin that He took upon Himself. Our punishment that He put Himself there to pay in full. The holy anger of God was poured out once and for all. 

Romans 8:1 confirms, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Right now, God invites you to shed whatever fears, lies, or condemnation the enemy has tried to put on you because of your child’s diagnosis or your current circumstances. Shame OFF you. What happened to your family is not your fault. Though your faith may be tested by them, God did not put these circumstances upon your family to test you (James 1:13). He is not angry with you or looking to punish you for your shortcomings. Your circumstances are only the result of living in a sin-ravaged world. So often God gets blamed for sorrow, sickness, and disease, but He has only ever wanted to rescue you from those very things (John 10:10).

Father God, I have been so afraid of what my circumstances must mean. All I’ve ever wanted is to love You and live for You well. To bring my family as my greatest offering. I’ve been sitting with the fear and the doubts of whether you allowed this, or if it is some kind of punishment for my family. I’d been prepared to serve You even if it was, but I praise You that You didn’t allow me to continue with that thought for long. You wanted to be sure I wouldn’t hold any part of my heart back from You in hurt or distrust. You rushed in to remind me of Your nature. You are a Father. You’ve entrusted me one of Your own children to love, and now I understand Your heart like never before. Your intentions toward us are only ever pure. You want to bless and protect us, never to hurt or punish us. You ache when You watch Your child suffer, just like I do. Holy Spirit, please continue to show me how the Old and New Testaments come together into one perfect love story in pursuit of me and my family. Build my understanding of righteousness and every promise that You have made available to my family through the new covenant of grace in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Dig Deeper into How to Navigate What is Ahead with Real Hope

Reflection Questions:

1. Is there any part of you that has somehow felt responsible for your child’s diagnosis or your family’s difficult circumstances? How has today’s devotion helped change that perspective?

2. What does it mean to you that “there is now no condemnation in Christ Jesus” from Romans 8:1?

3. How does condemnation present in your current circumstances?

4. John 8:32 tells us the truth shall set us free. What are some ways you can get the Word before you and challenge condemnation head-on when it tries to take you down?

Put Your Faith Into Action:

The enemy is so crafty in trying to convince people they’re the exception to salvation or that they somehow do not belong among the children of God.

You might have read the above verses and thought that the promise to belong to Jesus is only for the remnant in Israel that Isaiah mentions. However, Paul’s letter to the Romans reveals a grander plan: 

“But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree- some of the people of Israel- have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree” (Romans 11:17).

Gentiles simply means “everyone else.” Everyone not born in the nation of Israel is now included too! 

In this verse, the specific Gentiles Paul addresses are those who have made the decision to follow Jesus. You were always a part of God’s plan! Because you have been grafted into the family along with Israel, every promise God once made to His people throughout the Old Testament now belongs to you too. It’s the best of both worlds- the promises of the Old Testament, but now backed by the grace, power, and provision of the New Testament.

2 Corinthians 1:20 tells us, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

To understand why the enemy works so hard to convince us that our circumstances are actually punishment, we need to understand these promises made. The ones the enemy is trying to keep us from. 

Salvation- or sozo as it’s translated in the Greek- is actually a package of promises. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are not just saved to enter Heaven one day. We are given access to God’s Holy Spirit so that we can truly know His heart and thus carry the fullness of His Kingdom here on the earth. Every intimate moment and miracle that Jesus modeled is still available to us today.

That’s threatening to the kingdom of hell. No wonder the enemy works so hard to keep us spinning in shame and distrust. 

God doesn’t just want to set your family free of this shame, but also to equip you to take your experiences and go to other families who need the same.

Now that your mind is assured that you did not cause your child’s diagnosis or your family’s difficult circumstances, that you are not being tested by God, and that He is not angry with you or punishing you for anything you’ve done, it is time to understand why the devil wanted to keep you stuck there.

Remember, it’s the truth that sets you free. Someone else’s encouragement written through a devotion can calm your anxious heart for the day, but God’s Word gets written upon it and carried with you for a lifetime.

This week, take some time and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through a complete understanding of salvation and all that it entails. Look up the meanings of the word salvation, translated sozo (Strong’s Concordance #4892), and peace, translated shalom (Strong’s Concordance #7965).

Then, read and pray through the scriptures listed under this week’s “Further Reading” section.

Further Reading:

• Romans 8:38- Nothing separates you from the love of God. He is not angry or setting you aside from Himself.

• Acts 13:46-47- The only exception to salvation is your own refusal to accept it.

• John 10:10 - God is not to blame for sorrow, sickness, and death.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:23, CJB. - Look at what it means to be sanctified completely.

• 2 Thessalonians 3:16 -Consider the meaning of peace you looked up.

• 2 Corinthians 1:20 - Every promise made to God’s people is now offered to Gentiles through Jesus Christ.

• Ephesians 1:3- what does every spiritual blessing in Heaven mean to you?

• Psalm 103:2-4 - A promise of God’s Word.

• Isaiah 53:5 - A promise of God’s Word.

• Exodus 23:26 - A promise of God’s Word.

What other promises can you find within the Word of God for your family’s circumstances? Begin to gather and declare those promises as your understanding of salvation grows and your faith is strengthened. No matter what you’ve been taught or what your experiences have been, let His Word alone set the standard for what salvation should look like.

Verse to meditate on and memorize:

Romans 8:1, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”

2 Corinthians 1:20, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

Nicole is an antiquing, book-loving, simple-joy-scouting, child of God. She's married to her high school sweetheart, Justin, and mama of two girls- Savannah Jane alive in Heaven and Charlotte Jean in her arms on Earth. After learning the wildly passionate, protective love of a parent, Nicole now empowers mothers to partner with the Father in discipling and defending the children entrusted to them. Nicole is a Praying Through ministries volunteer who writes at Nicoleminers.com.